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Thursday, 31 January 2013

Silver-White (The Great North Woods Pack #1)by Shawn Underhill“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,And miles to go before I sleep.”~ Robert Frost

*Evie’s family has been holding out on her …

Big time.

On an unexpected visit to her grandparents’ house in New Hampshire’s secluded North Woods, the sixteen-year-old literally runs into the truth of the long-hidden family secrets, and finds herself thrust without warning into the clandestine world of the Great North Pack—a wild and exhilarating world of rugged beauty, heart-pounding adventures, and long nights running under a sea of stars … but as she’s set to discover, a world also fraught with potential dangers lurking in the shadows.

Praise for Silver-White"Simply put, this book was amazing. I've read more fantasy novels than than I can count, but this one is certainly one of the best. The heroine isn't some wishy-washy pansy that screams at everything, and the focus of the story isn't on some unbelievably beautiful teenage girl who suddenly becomes the biggest, baddest member of her species falling in love with some big, bad, sexy member of her newfound species. It's about a girl becoming something she never knew existed, finding her place within the pack family she values more than ever before, and an age-old feud that threatens everything she loves."~Morgan

Shawn is a part-time writer from New Hampshire, where he spends his free time hiking in the mountains, camping, racing dirt bikes, or anything else that keeps him outdoors. Dogs are his very favorite people. He is also the author of the novel All Things Different.

$100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash-Open Internationally-Ends 13th Feb 2013Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Series:Bloodlines #1Author:Richelle MeadPublished:23rd August 2011 by RazorbillSource:Paperback from my bookshelf (Purchased)Synopsis:Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning...

I requested The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) from NetGalley to review and was super excited when I was approved! I'd read Bloodlines when it first came out and had been holding off reading The Golden Lily because I wasn't sure I could handle waiting for the next book.Almost as soon as I'd finished reading Bloodlines the first time I yearned to read it again so rereading it for the release of the new book seemed like the logical (and totally amazing) thing to do. I couldn't wait to emerse myself in the VA/Bloodlines world again and push further into the story!Okay, first things first: Sydney and Adrian. I love them a their friendship and their relationship and I just can't get enough of the Sydney-Adrian scenes! I have different feelings towards them as I do to Rose and Dimitri (from Vampire Academy). I wanted Rose and Dimitri to be together, but more than that I wanted Dimitri to climb out of the pages and claim his undying love for me. With Sydney and Adrian, I don't just want them to be together, I need them to be together. They're perfect for each other and I love them! Adrian is no less sexy and amazing than Dimitri, but if he climbed from the book I'd send him right beck to Sydney. I love reading about their relationship and refuse for him (or her) to be with anyone else. Ever.I really liked learning more about the Alchemists, especially seeing how strong/deep their feeling for Vampires ran. Being in Sydney's mind gave me a new insight into how the Alchemists work and how their ideals are enforced and disciplined, etc. I was also very interested in the 're-education centre', the place where naughty Alchemists go. I really want to read more of it, up close and personal!Richelle Mead's books are so addictive! The worlds she creates, the characters she develops, the ideas she brings to life.. they're all so wonderful that if I could, I would climb inside her books and live there! Bloodlines was just as fantastic as the Vampire Academy series and I was super excited when I learnt she was creating a companion series for VA. Bloodlines was a brilliant start to this new series and not to give anything away but.. the rest of the books are just as amazing and wonderful!

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Flight (Crescent Chronicles #1) by Alyssa Rose IvyPublication Date: August 2012Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.

Freshman year of college is hard even when you're not tied to the future king of a supernatural society.

Allie dives into college head first with Hailey as her roommate and the city of New Orleans as her backyard. As things within The Society heat up, Allie realizes that whether she’s with Levi or not, she's in far too deep to turn back.

Closing my eyes, I tried to block it all out. Convinced I was about to die, I was only partly aware of his arms around me.

“You said you wanted an adventure,” he said quietly, teasingly, as he tightened his hold.

My stomach dropped out as an intense and complete feeling of weightlessness engulfed me. The wind stung my face as memories flooded my mind. I thought of my parents, of all the things I wanted to tell them but never did, my friends from home, and the experiences I longed for. Quickly my thoughts changed to more recent memories, to Levi.

Against my better judgment, I listened. The scream died in my throat as we hurtled toward the water that had seemed so beautiful from the roof above.

Author Bio - Alyssa Rose Ivy

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

I have 3 winners to announce for my 100 Followers Giveaway! One for the AUS Only Giveaway, One for the INT Giveaway, and a bonus winner for the 'guess the number of books in my book tree' entry option.

Winner of the AUS Only Giveaway..

Angelya

Winner of the INT Giveaway..

Lacey T.

Winner of the Book Tree Guesstimation Giveaway..

Throuthehaze

Congratulations! I've sent you all an e-mail so please reply within 72 hours. Thanks for entering, happy reading!

One of the entry options for the giveaway was to guess the number of books in my book tree, a lot of you guessed which I was over-the-moon about but only one of you got it right! A round of applause to Throuthehaze who correctly guessed the number of books. There were a few others who were close, but didn't quite get it. Thanks for playing along!

There were 137 books in my book tree!

I was blown away at the number of entries into my giveaway and by all the different countries! I made a little map-graph to show the variety of countries! Thank you so much to everyone who entered, I can't believe I've now got over 300 followers! Thank you everyone, I wish you could all win.

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

The concept of this book is so intriguing! It's unique and exciting and I am so looking forward to reading it. Also, it's part of a series which means more of this fantastical idea is going to be written! I cannot wait to see what this book's like!

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

Expected Publication: 9th April 2013Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbor is the uber conservative governor son, Trey Chapman.

No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can’t stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can’t help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her.

A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey’s politics threatens to smother their relationship for good.

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

I got a copy of this from NetGalley and was told to hold off on any sort of reivews/quotes/spoilery-type-stuff until the 29th of January. Guess what?! Today is the 29th and I am super excited to share this quote from The Indigo Spell with you!

"The cat came by with a refill for Marcus's lemonade, and I soon had proof that it was a woman. "Thanks love," Marcus said, giving her a smile that nearly made her swoon and drop the tray. When he turned back to us he was all business."

Monday, 28 January 2013

Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.

As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.

Praise for Jack Templar: Monster Hunter

Kirkus Reviews

"Gunhus brings young readers a monster-filled romp to read at their own risk. In the first few pages, Jack, the storyteller and main character, warns readers not to read about these real-world monsters that would seem to only exist in fiction. The tone is set--sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek and likable; rooting for Jack is easy...Gunhus masterfully introduces fully realized characters with whom readers can connect almost instantly. The pacing is quick but not rushed, and events seamlessly progress, complete with action, cliff-hangers and surprise reveals."

Amazon Reviews

Watch out Percy Jackson here comes Jack TemplarMove over Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, there's a new kid in town - Jack Templar, and he will take you on a wonderful adventure of good vs evil, with friends and enemies at every turn. The twists and turns keep the reader on a roller coaster of entertainment in the way of JK Rowling and Rick Riordan. ~ Penny Brein

Fast paced adventure through and throughWritten for middle school aged students, this book is action-packed from the beginning and will hold the attention of young readers. Not only that, as an adult reader, it was hard to put down, so parents will enjoy it as an easy read. ~ bluejellybean

Kids will love it!Not only will kids love it, adults will too! I don't want to give the plot away but this is a book worth reading. This book is creatively written drawing in the reader to be a participant in the story. There is lots of action with enough blood and guts to be interesting without being gross. Girls will like it too with the strong female role models and the hint of romance. Even though this is a children's book, I couldn't put it down. I will definitely be adding this to my classroom library. I am looking forward to reading the book in this series and sharing it with my students. Awesome book! ~ pixiep

Yeah, you read it right. I’m a monster hunter. Back before I actually became one, I would have thought that sounded totally awesome. And don’t get me wrong, in a lot of ways it is. But most of the time, I’m either running for my life or hiding in the shadows, praying the monster chasing me doesn’t pick up my scent. And I’m almost always scared to death. In a few pages, I think you’ll see why.

But there are a few things I need to warn you about before I tell you my story. First, this isn’t a cartoon. These are bloodthirsty creatures who will stop at nothing to kill. They are scary. Very scary. Second, the only way to stop them is to kill them first…and that gets gross and messy. Third, this is all real. You think I’m kidding, don’t you? I can almost see you smirking as you read this. But this isn’t a joke. Monsters are real and the story I’m about to tell you really happened. If you’d rather walk through life believing that monsters are only found in books or on the movie screen, then you should shut this book right now and go do something else. I give you these warnings because the story I’m about to tell you isn’t for everyone. Not everyone can handle it. The blood. The gore. The monsters. This life was thrust onto me. I had no choice but to take up a sword and fight. But you can still walk away and pretend this dark world doesn’t exist. Or you can walk through the door that I’m about to open and find out the truth about the world around you. But I warn you (and this is a big warning), if you read this book, if you learn about the monsters that roam among us and the hunters who fight them, if you decide to learn the truth, then you will become fair game for the monsters to chase. Make sure you understand what I’m saying. If you read this book, you will be part of this world and the monsters will come after you too. You will start to see things that no other humans can see. The shadows will move when you walk near them. The creatures of the night will seek you out, testing the doors and windows of your house, looking for a way in. And, at some point, they will find you, just like they found me, and you will be forced to defend yourself. So, think carefully before you turn the page, because once you do, there’s no turning back. Ever. Once a monster hunter, always a monster hunter. See you on the other side. If you’re brave enough.

Author Bio - Jeff Gunhus

Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash-Open Internationally-Ends 15th Feb 2013Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.a Rafflecopter giveaway

I know a lot of people do a 'freebie friday' post with links to currently free books, but I never seem to find very many interesting free books, I do however find some awesomely cheap books which I'd love to share.My showcased books will be from anywhere I can find (Smashwords, Amazon, TBD..) but I will make sure that nothing on here is over $10, whether it's paperback, hardcover or e-book format. I'll try to do this at least once a month, weekly would be great but I think saying at least once a month is safer. Enjoy, I hope you find a bargain!These are some books from Smashwords that are cheap (as most Smashword books are) but also sound (or are!) very cool! Hope you can find something to interest you!Under $3Stolen (Stolen #1) by K.A Krisko ~Smashwords~GoodreadsCrypt of Souls (Stolen #2) by K.A Krisko ~Smashwords~GoodreadsDeception of the Magician (Waldgrave #2) by A.L. Tyler ~Smashwords~GoodreadsSecrets of the Guardian (Waldgrave #3) by A.L. Tyler~Smashwords~GoodreadsWisteria (Wisteria #1) by Bisi Leyton ~Smashwords~Goodreads(really enjoyed this book ~4/5 review)Myopia (Wisteria #2) by Bisi Leyton ~Smashwords~GoodreadsAdvantage Erin by Kris Kreisman ~Smashwords~Goodreads (short, fun read ~3.5/5 review)Under $2The Knight of the Rose (Dark Secrets #2) by A.M. Hudson ~Smashwords~GoodreadsThe Heart's Ashes (Dark Secrets #3) by A.M. Hudson ~Smashwords~GoodreadsMark of Betrayal (Dark Secrets #4) by A.M. Hudson ~Smashwords~GoodreadsThe Purloined Boy (The Weirdling Cycle #1) by Mortimus Clay ~Smashwords~GoodreadsUnder $1Tears of the Broken (Dark Secrets #1) by A.M. Hudson ~Smashwords~GoodreadsArrival of the Traveler (Waldgrave #1) by A.L. Tyler ~Smashwords~GoodreadsThe Festival on Lyris Five by Nick Daws~Smashwords~GoodreadsParanoia (Wisteria #2.5) by Bisi Leyton ~Smashwords~Goodreads

Sunday, 27 January 2013

So I've been running this for a while and I've been constantly changing it, but now I've decided what I'm doing and I'd love for you guys to join me! There are heaps of different memes about, I do quite a few of them here like Waiting on Wednesday and Stacking the Shelves, etc.. but I also wanted to do something that was my own and that's how this came about. I don't actually judge a book solely on it's cover I've read many a bad book with a gorgeous cover and many great books with very plain, boring covers, so I'm not a total cover snob, but I do appreciate a nice cover. This is just a simple, fun post showcasing some of the covers we love.

What's this all about?

I'm not sure how many of you will be interested in this but I love it and if you want to join me I'd be thrilled! Each Sunday I'll be posting my own Judging a Book by It's Cover post where I'll showcase one book and giving a bit of love to its cover(s).

How to join in?

Being a part is really easy. All you're required to do is make a post like this one, showcasing a cover you love, giving your views on the cover and book. You don't have to have read the book but if you have you can include the general feel of the book ('The After Opinion'). You can post any time throughout the week, I've made my post on Sunday because it fit better with my schedule, but if you have a preferred day then that's fine! You can make up your own questions too but please try to include at least one of mine. You can include my meme graphic or make your own, but make sure to link back to my blog and add your post link below. (If the Linky tool isnt working then please leave your link in the comments, I'm away this weekend so won't be able to fix anything up until then.) If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask and most of all.. have fun!

Within

by Clare C. Marshall

Publication Date: 13th November 2011

Why it Caught My Eye:

It's hauntingly beautiful. The colours are pretty but somewhat dark, the same with the girl, she's pretty and her dress is such a pure white, but her expression.. she looks haunted. All-in-all it's very lovely but very creepy and that really intrigued me.

Favourite Feature:

The leaves and the twisting; of the hair, the leaves and the title.What I Guessed About the Book:Something dark was going on, I could really feel that from the cover. I wasn't sure whether the girl was good or bad, but I knew something was wrong with her. Seeing all that white in her eyes gave me a feeling of possession, that something had taken hold of this eerie, beautiful girl..The After Opinion:I really liked this book. It was just a gorgeous and haunting as I'd thought and I loved how well the cover fit in with the story. It was a fluffy read, but it was an enchanting ride.

Friday, 25 January 2013

Series:N/AAuthor:Kimberly KreyPublished: 11th September 2012 by Kimberly KreySource:Copy from the author for an honest review

Synopsis:When Evie falls in love with Calvin Knight, their young, virtuous romance conjures a truly wicked spell.Evie always thought her eighteenth year would be magical, but so far it's not what she hoped for. Her best friend has gone wild, her love life is void, and she misses her mom more than ever. But life for Evie is about to change. Calvin Knight, the object of her fascination, is about to fall madly in love with her. Just one problem: Their love conjures a murderous woman from beyond the grave who wants Evie dead. The same demon who has haunted the Knight men for over four generations. Soon Calvin is forced to make a choice: Set Evie free and hope to evade the wrath of The Raven- haired Ghost, or use his newly gifted strengths to fight against her. If he chooses to fight and wins, Calvin will free the Knight men of this demonic witch. If he loses, Evie will become her next victim.

My ReviewI had more of an older day image in my head for this story so I was surprised at how modern it was. It wasn't bad, not at all, I thoroughly enjoyed the contemporary feel to this book and am glad it was set in modern times.This is a paranormal romance and though I could definitely feel the romance, the first half of the book seemed to be lacking in the paranormal. I really enjoyed the first half, focusing on Evie and Calvin's relationship and their pasts and emotional insecurities. It was all very real and I loved losing myself in their lives. The paranormal aspect came on really suddenly. There had been hints of it throughout the story but all of a sudden it just hit you and that drew me away from the story. I was just following a young romance with all it's usual ups and downs and then I was suddenly dumped with all these magical powers and evil curses, and it just felt to be a bit much. I liked it, but I just felt it could've been worked in better.The writing in this book was great and some of the issues it brought up were really important. This was a clean romance yet there were still some racy parts, nothing bad, just very deep and emotional. It was sexy without the sex, and that was really fun!

I loved all the main characters, I wasn't particularly fond of Calvin's name, it didn't fit with sexy guy image in my head, but that was easily overlooked in the rush of the story. Even though Jocelyn was a main part to the story, I felt she was kind of overlooked. I didn't get to see much of her character and was just a bit meh about her. All the other characters were fantastic and I loved them to bits!This book was a good read and though there were a couple of things that didn't really mesh quite well, I still had a great time. I loved Evie and Calvin's relationship and the scenes when they were together were fun, flirty and just a little bit dangerous. This basics of this story were great and I hope to read more of Kimberly and see her writing grow!3.5/5 Whales

AUTHOR BIO - Kimberly Krey

Writing Romance That’s Clean Without Losing the Steam!

I’m a reader of good, clean romance, a lover of family time and Diet Coke, and the ultimate hater of laundry.

I’m not patient enough to enjoy a yoga class, or tall enough to be great at basketball, but I do love to run – anywhere but on a treadmill. I love the sound of a rainstorm when I have no place to go, the feel of SoftLips chapstick on my lips, and the first peek of blue water as we round the mountains toward our favorite getaway in Bear Lake.

*Paperback winners may choose between old cover (shown below) or the new cover, featuring Calvin Knight (shown above).

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Colorimetry & Rafflecopter as well as emailed to winners who will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Laura, Burgandy Ice, @ www.burgandyice.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

I would like to alert my readers that my opinions are my own and I am not being paid for my reviews. All books not bought are given to me freely and are accepted for an honest review. Receiving ARC's and/or free review copies in no way influences the opinions expressed in my reviews.